Lest we forget

Graham Baker spent two days replacing more than 1,000 gold letters on the Steyne Gardens tribute that had faded after years exposed to the elements.

The seafront memorial was erected to remember 26 local fallen heroes who died during the Second Boer War (1899-1902).

Mr Baker, 37, who lives in St Lawrence Avenue, said he volunteered to "sprouse up" the statue after walking past it with his dog, Bailey.

He said: "People in Worthing have been very kind to me and I just thought it was a way of saying thank you. It looked a bit dull sat on the sea front there and I wanted to brighten it up a bit."

Mr Baker, who served as a gunner in the Territorial Army in the Sussex Yeomanry, said gold leaf lettering should be replaced every 10 years.

He added: "It needed to be done and the council haven't got that kind of money. When I finished, the sun was shining and when I drove away it really stood out, which felt brilliant after all that hard work."

The Town Hall spends 1,980 per year to maintain four town centre clocks, the South African memorial and the war memorial in Chapel Road.

Spokeswoman Wendy Knight said the council's budget could not stretch to pay for new gold lettering.

"This is a fantastic gesture for the town, we are just really grateful to Graham. It has really smartened up the war memorial," she added.

Meanwhile Marine councillor Tom Wye, head of the Combined Services Association (CESA), said it intended to lay a floral tribute on the memorial at the beginning of Remembrance week.

Controversy marred last year's Remembrance Sunday when the Herald laid a single poppy wreath at the memorial after organisers ignored the tragic deaths of young men who died in the South African conflict, while laying floral tributes at other town war memorials.